Song Lyric Sunday – Baby Please Don’t Go

Posted byChristine BoltonPosted inBlog, Song Lyric SundayTags:, ,

Jim Adams has prompted us with Did, Didn’t, Do, Don’t, Does and Doesn’t for this week’s Song Lyric Sunday. I started looking and came up with at least 20 songs in the first 10 minutes so I can’t wait to see what everyone comes up with today.

I have chosen an old song, “Baby Please Don’t Go”, that several bands have recorded over the years but my personal favorite was by the 60’s band Them with the great Van Morrison. I hope you enjoy this old video. Look how young Van was!!

“Baby Please Don’t Go” was one of the earliest songs recorded by Them, fronted by a 19-year-old Van Morrison. Their rendition of the song was derived from a version recorded by John Lee Hooker in 1949 as “Don’t Go Baby”. Hooker’s song later appeared on a 1959 album, Highway of Blues, which Van Morrison heard and felt was “something really unique and different” with “more soul” than he had previously heard. 

Them recorded “Baby, Please Don’t Go” for Decca Records in October 1964. Besides Morrison, there is conflicting information about who participated in the session. In addition to the group’s original members (guitarist Billy Harrison, bassist Alan Henderson, drummer Ronnie Millings, and keyboard player Eric Wrixon), others have been suggested: Pat McAuley on keyboards, Bobby Graham on a second drum kit, Jimmy Page on second guitar, and Peter Bardens on keyboards. As Page biographer George Case notes, “There is a dispute over whether it is Page’s piercing blues line that defines the song, if he only played a run Harrison had already devised, or if Page only backed up Harrison himself”.  Morrison has acknowledged Page’s participation in the early sessions: “He played rhythm guitar on one thing and doubled a bass riff on the other” and Morrison biographer Johnny Rogan notes that Page “doubled the distinctive riff already worked out by Billy Harrison”.

“Baby, Please Don’t Go” was released as Them’s second single on November 6, 1964. With the B-side, “Gloria”, it became their first hit, reaching number ten on the UK Singles Chart in February 1965. The single was released in the US in 1965, but only “Gloria” became a hit the following year. The song was not included on Them’s original British or American albums (The Angry Young Them and Them Again), however, it has appeared on several compilation albums, such as The Story of Them Featuring Van Morrison and The Best of Van Morrison. When it was reissued in 1991 as a single in the UK, it reached number 65 in the chart. Van Morrison also accompanied John Lee Hooker during a 1992 performance, where Hooker sings and plays “Baby, Please Don’t Go” on guitar while sitting on a dock, with harmonica backing by Morrison; it was released on the 2004 Come See About Me Hooker DVD.

Lyrics
Baby, please don't go
Baby, please don't go
Baby, please don't go down to New Orleans
You know I love you, so, baby, please don't go

Baby, your mind done gone
Well, your mind done gone
Well, your mind done gone, left the county farm
You had the shackles on; baby, please don't go

Before I be your dog
Before I be your dog
Before I be your dog to get you way down here
I'll make you walk alone; baby, please don't go, hey

Baby, please don't go
Baby, please don't go
Baby, please don't go down to New Orleans
You know I love you, so, baby, please don't go

Before I be your dog
Before I be your dog
Before I be your dog to get you way down here
Make you walk alone; baby, please don't go

Know how I feel right now?
My baby leavin' on that midnight train, and I'm cryin'
Baby, please don't go
Oh, baby, please don't go

Baby, please don't go down to New Orleans
You know I love you, so, baby, please don't go yeah
Before I be your dog
Before I be your dog

Before I be your dog to get you way down here
I make you walk alone; baby, please don't go, yeah
All right

Source: Musixmatch
Songwriters: Joe Williams

Published by Christine Bolton

I have been writing poetry since I was a child and it has helped in the good times and bad times. I am always looking within to find the answers to life's problems and to write thought-provoking poetry and prose. Thanks for checking it out. Christine

37 thoughts on “Song Lyric Sunday – Baby Please Don’t Go”

    1. I’ve always loved that song, especially the Stones version, but finding this one was so much fun. 🥰

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  4. Nice choice! Heard Hooker’s version countless times… since my dad was a big fan. 😀 And Van at 19? WOW!

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    1. Thanks Felicia. I thought it was fun to see him so young. Yes JLK version was wonderful 😊. Have a great Sunday!

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    1. Ha, yes! You could say he’s indestructible as he’s still performing and making quality albums ☺️ Thanks for listening/reading 💕

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    1. I’m so glad you liked it. In his 70s and still making albums. He sounds just the same. I love him 🙂❤️!

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  7. Oh YEAH! I adore the 60’s garage band sound. “Mystic Eyes” was another Them song that I really like. I like John Lee Hooker’s version of this that you mentioned. Interesting side note about Jimmy Page. Great stuff!

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  8. Christine thanks for adding this absolutely perfect song for today. I am starting off my day with this cooker and like you said, I can’t wait to see what everyone comes up with.

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    1. My pleasure Jim! This was a fun prompt and I was spoilt for choice. Happy you enjoyed this oldie. Van is still amazing – I’m a big fan of his 🙂👍

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    1. Thanks John. You know I found a youtube with Muddy Waters and the Stones performing it. It was really good 🙂

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      1. I think that was done at Buddy Guy’s Legends, which used to be Theresa’s Basement. Buddy inherited the club from Theresa and really fixed it up. It used to be kind of a dive in a bad neighborhood; now it’s a nice place in a bad neighborhood that’s getting a little better because of Buddy Guy.

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      2. Yes I went there about 15 years ago now and saw Ronni and The Ronettes. That was kind of fun as was a big Motown fan years ago (still am!) Its terrible the way Phil Spector treated her when they were married.

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      3. I don’t have a lot of respect for Phil Spector. Certainly not as a producer: he took the soundtrack for “Let It Be” and did serious damage to it. There’s a version called “Let It Be – Naked” that removes Phil’s Wall-O-Sound, and it makes it easier to listen to. Phil’s also a kind of sleazebag and, as you say, mistreated Ronnie.

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  13. Nice choice! I think I heard this before. It’s a great classic rock n’ roll song! Reminds me of the Beatles a bit!

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